Explosive exits, cracking returns and an episode so weird it's been keeping the soap's boss up at night

Spoiler

By Carl Greenwood

20th November 2017,2:17 pm

Updated: 20th November 2017,3:00 pm

CHRISTMAS is a dangerous time in soapland and this year it’s set to be more dramatic than ever.

While the rivers of Weatherfield, Walford and the Dales might not literally run with blood, the undertakers will certainly be kept busy in what could shape up to be the most exciting Christmas in soapland since Den Watts got overexcited with a do-it-yourself divorce pack from WH Smith.

Tracy Barlow and Steve McDonald reuniting

As far as ideas go, Tracy and Steve’s reunion is quite possibly the worst one ever

No, you don’t need new glasses and yes, you did read that right – Tracy Barlow and Steve McDonald are reuniting.

It’s a Christmas miracle – or at least it is for everyone except their poor daughter Amy, who is frankly outraged that her manipulative mother and frightfully fertile father are bumping uglies once more.

The Sun Online revealed how the shockingly brilliant storyline will unfold at Christmas and leave Amy feeling put out.

“Well Amy’s not happy about it because she knows that they’re both trouble and on a very shallow level she’s used to things being as they are – she gets two birthday presents, two Christmas presents, she gets two sets of Christmas presents as kids of broken homes do,” Kate Oates exclusively told The Sun Online.

Coronation Street's Tracy Barlow fumes as dad Ken leaves her off his will

“But also I think she’s just worried that it will end in tears because she knows that they’re both walking car crashes and everything’s kinda alright and they kinda get on and I think she’s really afraid of them getting together and then it all imploding so she’s not very happy to start with.

“But I really like Steve and Tracy because you can see what sort of thing has drawn them back together – they’ve both been around the block so many times the pair of them that actually in a way, maybe they should be brought back together for a while.

“But whether it will be long-long term, you’ll have to wait and see. Amy’s prophecy may come true.”

EastEnders

Catastrophe for Christmas in Walford

It’s no secret that EastEnders hasn’t had the best of years, but that’s all set to change at Christmas.

The long-running Max Branning’s revenge plot is finally going to come to an end with some utterly explosive episodes over the festive period which will see the exits of his daughters Lauren and Abi from Walford.

“With Christmas rapidly approaching in Albert Square, things are set to explode in catastrophic style,” the EastEnders team teased.

EastEnders' Steven Beale blackmailed into murder by Max Branning

“Secrets and lies are exposed and families are torn apart forever.

“With the Branning’s at the heart of Christmas day, the special festive episodes will be written by Simon Ashdown.

“The Brannings will be at the heart of the drama and it is set to be a classic EastEnders Christmas that will go down in Walford history.”

Ben Mitchell’s exit

He’s had more faces than Mount Rushmore and is practically Walford’s answer to Doctor Who, but after three years Ben Mitchell is leaving Walford again.

Soap bosses decided Christmas was the perfect time for Ben to leave the Square but have remained mum on exactly how he will leave.

It’s perfectly possible that Ben could leave Walford having had a moment’s joy at some point, but then again he could also be abducted by aliens which is probably more likely than a happy ending in Walford.

There are many theories about how Ben will leave – murdering, murdered, happy, sad, lottery win etc, but all a source would say is that it will be “explosive”.

A ROBRON EXTRAVAGANZA

Despite all logic saying Aaron Dingle and Robert Sugden should immediately move to the opposite side of the world to each other and never be in the same hemisphere, time zone and if they can absolutely help it -show, these two do insist on keep getting back together.

As neither intends to raise their standards at any point, Robron’s latest reunion will come to the fore at Christmas in their own special episode.

Producer Iain MacLeod has confirmed the fan favourite couple will reunite and tie the knot properly next summer, after a special Christmas Day episode centres around them as Robert strives to become a decent human being again.

He said: “It’s kind of a Robron single-strander. Which is probably the weirdest episode we’ve ever done and given that we’ve done some pretty weird episodes before that’s saying something.

Emmerdale's Aaron Dingle ends his marriage to Robert Sugden for good

“It’s really kind of out there and kind of the episode I’ve been most nervous about since I started just because of how crackers it is really.